Government figures show that 585 residents in Wiltshire entered the Breathing Space scheme in 2025, which offers temporary legal protections from creditors, including a pause on interest and charges for up to 60 days.
The scheme, introduced in 2021, aims to provide individuals with time to seek free debt advice and develop a plan to manage their finances.
Since its launch, 2,597 people in Wiltshire have used the scheme, which reflects growing financial pressures.
Separate figures from the Money and Pensions Service show that 11 per cent of people in Wiltshire are in need of debt advice.
Jack Sporcic, a debt adviser from National Debtline, said: “Behind every Breathing Space application is someone trying to find a…